Prunus virginiana - Chokecherry, Western Chokecherry, Black Chokecherry. There are three varieties of Prunus virginiana in the United States - P. Virginia var. virginiana (Common Chokecherry) is found in the eastern part of the country, and both P. virginiana var. melanocarpa (Black Chokecherry) and P. virginiana var. demissa (Western Chokecherry) are found in the western part. One variety or another is found in every state except Louisiana, Alabana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, and Hawaii. Chokecherry is also found in most Canadian provinces.

There are minor differences between the varieties. Among other differences, var. melanocarpa has black fruit while the others have red or purple fruit. The fruit is edible, but use caution – as with many drupes (fruits with skin, pulp, and hard middle seed) the pit can be poisonous if consumed in large enough quantities (note that this is also true of peach, cherry, and plum pits,) and children have reportedly died from eating a large quantity of chokecherries with pits.

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Site: Boise National Forest, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-15

Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson

Based on the location (Ada County, Idaho) this is Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa. The flowers have 5 white petals attached to 5 greenish sepals with a yellow center. The flower has a number of stamens extending above the flower. The fragrant cluster is more or less cylindrical.

Site: Boise National Forest, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-15

Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D60

Chokecherry has lanceolate, serrated leaves. The western varieties are shrubs that may rarely grow as tall as 20 feet; the eastern variety can be a small tree.